Rain Unites Golfers Simpson, Donald

June 15, 1990|By SKIP MILLER Staff Writer

MEDINAH, Ill. — Rain must bring these guys together, this Tim Simpson and that Mike Donald.

When last seen on the same course, it was a rain-freshened Monday morning in 1989. Donald had just rammed in an 8-foot birdie putt to beat Simpson on the fouth sudden death hole of the Anheuser-Busch Classic.

After Thursday morning's rain delay at Medinah Country Club, they were spotted again. This time keeping each other company atop the leader board at the U.S. Open.

Tim Simpson used six birdies to card a 66 that left him tied for the lead with Jeff Sluman and Scott Simpson. Donald, who birdied four of the last seven holes, was a stroke behind.

What has happened to Tim Simpson and Mike Donald since last year's rain-delayed A-B Classic playoff is as contrasting as their personalities.

Donald is the quiet one. The introverted bachelor whom peers call "Iron Mike" because he plays in so many tournaments.

His victory at Kingsmill allowed him entry to this year's Masters. He celebrated tying the course record with an opening-round 64, only to cave in with a second-round 78 and finish 47th.

Tim Simpson is the outgoing family man who for years tried to harness his immense talent with iron chains of discipline. Only when he learned to look within did he free the talent to find success. He went on to win two tournaments after the Busch and has had five top-10 finishes this year.

"Those who know me say the turnaround happened two years ago at the Anheusuer-Busch Classic," Tim Simpson said. "I'm not so sure. Bob Rotella is, though. He said he even knows the day it happened."

Rotella is the University of Virginia sports psychologist who has worked with a number of professional athletes on rebuilding their mental approach. Simpson has been one of his clients for several years.

"Rotella and I had a good session at the Anheuser-Busch," Tim Simpson said. "I basically had to make a commitment to turn my whole life around ... to be positive, win, lose, or draw. That's tough."

The stage for that turnaround was set a year earlier when Katie Simpson was born. Because of complications, doctors said there was an 80-percent chance she would not survive.

As he watched the doctors work frantically to save his baby, Tim Simpson remembers thinking, "Why has golf become so important? Why is it the most important thing in your life?

"I realized I didn't need to take it so seriously anymore. Watching Katie fight for her life ... I realized golf doesn't have anything to do with life. If I don't score well, the sun will still come up in the morning."

Tim Simpson is now so in control of his perspective, he was able to spend the last two weeks salmon fishing in Alaska. He went 11 days without touching a golf club. Then he played just two practice rounds after arriving at Medinah.

"I feel nice and fresh," he said. "I played awful solid."

For a change, Mike Donald can say the same. Finally, he can clarify something that's been on his mind for two months.

"Playing at Augusta was something I had been dreaming about since I was a little kid," he said. "Then going there for the first time and shooting that first round ... that was unbelievably special.

"But the second round was a tough day for me. It was something I can't say I didn't expect. My game wasn't in that good a shape.

"I'm playing a lot better now. My game's better now. I should be able to handle it better."

Handle it as well as, well, Tim Simpson.

"I'm getting out of my own way," Tim Simpson said. "The talent was always there. I was just too hard on myself."